Grenade.



Patented Jan. 1Q, 1911.

GRENADE.

E. B. BABBITT.

Unire earns nlinnr onirica.

EDWIN BURR BABBITT, 0F 'II-ll'iI UNITED STATES ARMY;

GRENADE.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

iaatemeaJa-n. io', ieri.

Continuation of abandoned appiication Serial No. 489,7440, filed Apr1'13, 1909. This application filed June 25, 1910.

Serial No. 568,950.

v(DEDICATED To THE `rUBLIc'.)

To all whom 'itmay concern;

- Beit known that I, EDWINBURR BABBITT, of the-United States Army, a' citizen of the UnitedStates,'for the present residing .at Sandy Hook,- in the .count-y of Monmouth and State of New Jersey,'have invented certain new and useul'lmprovenients in Grenades, of. which the following is a specificaof any .royalty thereon.

This application is a'v continuation of my abandoned: application Serial No. S93/l0,v

. the lgrenade is to be iired from the riie.'

and apra 1a, i909.

. It is Well';kiiown thatJgrenades or vhand.

thrownboinbs-are liniite'din range .to about 150 feet,l are inaccurate in direction, and are dangerous to the user vand his companions.

This invention relates to a so called rifle;

grenade, which can be. propelled a considergable distance it" ncco'ss'ary,. can be accurately directedand is'ielatively safe tothe user.

This kind-lof grenade isprovided with fax charge oi high explosive, percussioncap mounted on aplunger, a Firing pinand delonatorof any lWell linoiv-n type.v

This invention relates to an improvement. in the method ofthroWi-ng grenades vWhere- "f the range is materially increased, ,Whereby' the' desired ldirection is assured,. and

nhereby the desirediange is obtained. For.

theA purpose of .obtaining the aforesaid increase in range,the grenade is provided withv a stem of rigid material of such dia-meter as to fit the boi-eef thef'rifle 'carried by the 'user of. the grenade. The length of the stein is -niadesut'h that the maximumgdesirell rangev will be tobtained.' A blank charge of smokeless powder or .a suitable nurtureof black andl smokeless powders is used With my grenad'efflt is evident thatl with the's-tem fully inserted in the muzzle of the rifle and the latter-.fired in the desired `direction-und proper elevation,'the grenade will bepro'- pelled,4 by means 'of the aforesaid blank charge, with the sanieaccuracy Aas attends-- mortar or howitzer lire. 4It is evident that any range Within the maximum'niay be attained by Vinserting the stein in the niuzzleof I the' iile, only so far as is necessary orthat lange. This is practically accomplished by graduating the. stem for the different ranges and providing a split collar closely' embracing the steln'but movable along it. setting the collar or sleeve'at the 'graduation for the required range and inserting the stein v,in the bore of the rifle, to this collar, the grenade will be propelled the yrequired distance b v means Vof the blank charge; The plunger which carries the percussion cap is securely locked. in place by meansof a lpin,

passing through the Walls of the plunger housingl and over the top of and. adjacent to' .the plunger.

This toV provide safety `for those carrying` the grenade, when -the sime is not in use; this pin must be removed when This 'grenade-is also provided with two vanes or blades, which, While not`necessary, are desirable ifor producing steadiness ofiiight. i .The'accompanying drawing is a longitudinal sectional vieii of the grenade, showing the plunger (which carries .the percussion cap) and -tlie detoiiatoi inside elevation.'

This drawing shoivs 4a type ot'my invention, in 'vvliiclithc mainbody of the-grenadt 8, ben'ig'a hollow cylinder', is illedf'wlth a composition of high explosive, the body 8, is provided on its lexterior circumference with a series of annular grooves 21, toaid in the fragmentationof the sameupon impact, ivhenthe grenade' is liredor thrown.

T he body 8,' is' provided Withl a. closing 'screw -cap 20, which iscounterbored to receive theliousing 2,l inwhicli is fitted a plunger 18, whichcairies'tlie percussion. cap.l

'22, a ivashei' 5, is interposed between the cap 20, and the explosive charge 7, for closing up'.an v spzicc between the closino cap20. and the charge...

.Thelower end `of the Vhousing-lis -provided With'a fenialescrew thread by means of -Which the detonator .6, issecured thereto.

This construction is employed in `order that 'the plunger carrying the percussion cap and the detonator may bel carried separate from the main-body' of the grenade whichl carries -the charge of high explosive, if. necessary vfor safetys sake.. In-theupper. end of Athe ico housing is fitted a firing pin 1. The lower end of the plunger 18, is provided with a split ring 19, Which locks the plunger temporarily to the housing, in a position away from the firing pin 1. The plunger 18, is securely locked in place to prevent forward movement by means of the pin 17, this locking means is employed simply for safety when the grenade is being carried or handled and must be removed when it is desired to tire the grenade from a rifle, or to throw the same by hand. The plunger 18, is provided With a central opening 3, filled With dry gun cotton. This serves as a means for communicating the ame from the cap 22, to the detonator 6.

To the lower end of the housing 8', is securely fitted-` a rod 10, of` rigid material.-

This rod is suitably graduated to indicate the ranges at which it is desired to propel the grenade by means of the blank charge before mentioned. These range graduations are marked 9, and consist of annular grooves cut into the rod, which form seats for the split collar 12, Which is employed for holding the grenade at any given position in the rifle barrel, as indicated by the Vlanges marked on the stem 10, of rigid material. There is also attached rigidly `to the lower end of the grenade body 8, two rods 11, on each of which is fixed a vane or blade 16, The object of these vanes or blades is to steady the flight of the grenade after it has been tired. As shown on the drawing. these..

guiding varies are arranged one on each side of the graduated stein and project downwardly along the outside of the rifle barrel.

The operation of this device as follows, viz: lnsert'the graduated stem of llie grenade in the muzzle of the rille, for a. desired range, as indicated by the graduatioiis thereon, adjusting the movable split;

collar for the purpose, remove the safety pin 17, point the i'iile in the desired direction, having the proper elevation (about 45 degrees), fire the ritle having a blank charge therein. The plunger carrying the percussion cap frees itself from its locking ring 19, and moves forward with such force that the percussion cap 22, is exploded-upon impact,` by coming in contact With the firing pin 1, the tiame from the cap is communicated through a central opening in the plunger, which is filled with dry gun cotton, to the detonator 6, Which is in `turn ex- 4nature o ploded, and this in turn explodes the charge of high explosive in the body 8, of the grenade.

It is evident that the design, as shown. is simply representative of the principle, and that varying means of securing the grenade inits proper'position in the bore of the rifle, may be employed, and that various combinations of the parts are possible Without affecting the principle involved.

Havingi fuly described and set forth the my invention, and in what manner the use of same is to be performed, what I claim is- 1. A grenade for small arms, comprising a main body portion, containing aihigh,

explosive charge, a detonator and a range graduated stem of rigid material, by means of which the grenade may be fitted to the bore of the gun, for-ejection therefrom.

2. A' grenade for small arms, comprising a main body portion, containing a high explosive charge, a detonator, a range graduated fring stein adapted to be projected4 from the bore of va guiiby the explosion et a blank charge therein.

D a' i f1 o. A gienado for small aims, compiismg a main body portion, containing a high explosive chargc, a detonaior. ay firing siem. and suitable graduations on the stem to in- -dicate the amountth'e stein should be inserted in the muzzle of the rifle, to attain 'the desired range.

sro

t. A grenade for small arms-adapted to be tired by means of a blank charge. comprising a main body portion, containing a highexplosive, a detonator, a tiring stem. suitable range graduations on the stein and au adjustable collar to regulate the amount the slcm should be inserted in llie bore to give the desired iange.

5. A grenade for small arms, adapted .to be fired by means of a blank charge. coinprising a main body portion. containing a high explosive, a detoiiator. a range graduated iring stem, a peicussioii cap, a firing pin, and vanes oi' blades for guiding or steadying the same in Hight, vas fully set forth.

ln testimony whereof I affix' my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN BURR BABBTTT. Witnesses:

FREDERIC H. SMITH, PHILIP T. MLLER. 

